A New Canaan woman said her 13-month-old golden retriever died of heat exposure while in the care of Burns.

Police, in a Thursday announcement, said authorities in July were notified about a possible illegal kennel operating in town.

Mimi (L) and Betsy Gammill (R) of New Canaan. Contributed

Darien police launched an investigation following “several complaints of animal cruelty against the owner” that included “abuse, unsanitary conditions, and neglect,” according to the police announcement.

“It was also reported that an animal in his care died as a result of overheating,” the announcement said.

Police obtained an arrest warrant for Burns, and he turned himself in on Friday, Oct. 6. In addition to the felony animal cruelty charge, he was cited for operating an unlicensed kennel.

New Canaan resident Mimi Gammill said she has been “heartbroken” since her own golden retriever, Betsy, died of heat exposure on July 19.

Gammill praised the work of Darien Police Sgt. T.J. Moore and Officer Rich Flood in conducting the department’s investigation. Through it, Gammill told NewCanaanite.com, she found that Burns had left her dog alone in either a hot garage or van without water or ventilation.

Betsy Gammill of New Canaan. Contributed

“When he brought her to VCA Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center in Norwalk, she was in full rigor mortis with a ‘too hot to the touch body temperature,” Gammill said.

Gammill said she is concerned that Burns may continue to try and operate his unlicensed business by expanding into other towns.

Police released Burns on $25,000 bond and scheduled him to appear Oct. 16 in state Superior Court in Stamford.

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Thirteen canines and their handlers, Metropolitan Transportation Authority police officers, graduated from the MTA Police Department's explosives detection and anti-terrorism training at a ceremony held in late January at Grand Central Terminal. ___________
— This article is a version of one in the MTA "Mileposts" newsletter.

Just hours after police found numerous unlocked vehicles were entered on Herman Avenue and nearby Allen O'Neill Drive, a Herman Avenue resident was contacted by a Target store in New York City on Friday and asked if she could confirm that she was applying for a store credit card. That was how the Darien woman who answered the phone found out that she was still being victimized from a case of identity theft that happened in December.

A New Canaan woman in a forceful statement on her experience last summer of learning that her 13-month-old puppy had died in the care of a Darien man found by police to be operating an non-registered kennel is pushing for justice officials to deny him a special form of parole. Burns, owner of the now-shuttered Terry’s House of Pets, requests that he be denied “accelerated rehabilitation” or ‘AR’ in order to send a message “there are severe consequences” for mistreating animals.

A New Canaan woman in a forceful statement on her experience last summer of learning that her 13-month-old puppy had died in the care of a Darien man found by police to be operating an non-registered kennel is pushing for justice officials to deny him a special form of parole. Burns, owner of the now-shuttered Terry’s House of Pets, requests that he be denied “accelerated rehabilitation” or ‘AR’ in order to send a message “there are severe consequences” for mistreating animals.

A New Canaan woman in a forceful statement on her experience last summer of learning that her 13-month-old puppy had died in the care of a Darien man found by police to be operating an non-registered kennel is pushing for justice officials to deny him a special form of parole. Burns, owner of the now-shuttered Terry’s House of Pets, requests that he be denied “accelerated rehabilitation” or ‘AR’ in order to send a message “there are severe consequences” for mistreating animals.